The atmosphere in Wave Country's central square fell into an eerie silence.
Zabuza and his crew remained speechless, clearly shaken by Yuto's bizarre entrance.
As seasoned ninjas, they were well aware of space-time ninjutsu's existence in this world.
The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had once dominated the ninja world with his "Flying Thunder God" space-time technique!
But strictly speaking, Flying Thunder God was just short-distance teleportation using markers. This freakish teenager before them had literally torn through space itself!
This wasn't ninjutsu anymore—it was practically "divine intervention!"
"Lord Yuto" Haku was the first to recover, bowing respectfully.
"No need for honorifics, Haku." Yuto smiled warmly. "Have you enrolled in school yet?"
Mandatory education for all school-aged children was the first policy Yuto implemented after becoming the Land of Waves leader. To him, education was paramount.
The endless conflicts plaguing the ninja world was largely due to poor quality education.
Konoha's current ninja academy had a six-year system, equivalent to elementary school graduation in his previous life. And this was already an improvement from wartime, when students graduated in three years—or even less for so-called "geniuses."
No wonder it produced so many "peace elites" who thought genocide equaled peace.
'No people left? No conflicts! Flawless logic!'
"Um... about that..." Haku lowered his head timidly.Ironically, the boy before him was younger, yet Haku couldn't help but see him as towering—almost intimidating.
"I'll take that as a no." Yuto's smile didn't waver. "If you won't follow basic policies, you're welcome to leave the land of Waves."
"My apologies," Haku whispered. "I just wanted to stay by Zabuza-sama's side."
"Haku, you start school tomorrow," Zabuza suddenly interjected.
"Zabuza-sama?" Haku looked puzzled.
"I don't need a tool like you anymore." Zabuza turned away coldly.
After days in the land of waves, he'd figured out what this young leader was trying to build—some naive utopia in this backwater country. Pathetic, really.
Yet... part of him respected that naivety.
If Haku could stay and be part of this dream, maybe that wasn't so bad.
"Indeed, Zabuza now has... a hoe." Yuto adjusted his glasses, deadpan. "If you want to stay and occasionally see him, school's your only option."
"...Understood." Haku reluctantly agreed.
"So," Yuto clapped cheerfully, "any complaints after working here for a few days?"
"YOU MADE US LEVEL A MOUNTAIN!" Raiga blurted out before immediately cowering. "I mean—respectfully—"
"Go on." Yuto raised an eyebrow.
"That mountain has twin peaks!" Raiga whined. "Even with full chakra, we'd die of exhaustion before flattening it.
"My mistake." To everyone's shock, Yuto nodded. "As an apology, I'll handle those peaks."
"...You?" Raiga gaped.
All five stared in disbelief.
"Those two, right?" Yuto peered at the southern mountains, conjuring a fiery orb in his palm. With a casual toss—
WHOOSH.
The fireball skyrocketed, swelling like an inflating sun until—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A mushroom cloud erupted. The shockwave cleared the clouds, leaving only drifting dust.
When it settled, the entire mountain peak had vanished.
"There. Carry on now." Yuto smiled and left, leaving five jaw-dropped ninjas with expressions like they'd just seen a god.
Meanwhile at the Umbrella Corporation's office Yakushi Nono and a silver-haired young man stood frozen by the window, staring at the now-missing mountain.
Only when Yuto knocked did they snap out of it.
"Incredible." The silver-haired man turned to Yuto. "Is this your 'Super Ninja Project'?"
"Nope, just basic ninjutsu." He grinned. " It's been a while... Kabuto?"
Yes—this was his "big brother," Orochimaru's right-hand man.
"Not even calling me brother anymore?" Kabuto adjusted his glasses dramatically. "Where's the camaraderie? The bonding?"
"Is there a correlation between titles and camaraderie?" Yuto countered.
"If I'm the big brother of a top-tier ninja, that makes me semi-top-tier by association," Kabuto reasoned.
"Logical. Still no." Yuto smirked.
"Cruel!" Kabuto clutched his chest theatrically. "And after I hauled all those research instruments here for you!"
"Shouldn't big brothers pamper their little brothers?" Yuto batted his eyes innocently.
"Wow. Just wow." Kabuto sighed. "As for the remains you wanted—some were buried deep in hidden villages. Not all of us can casually delete mountains."
"Thanks. This helps plenty." Yuto finally relented. "...Brother."
"Worth the wait." Kabuto grinned, then sobered. "Next steps?"
"Take our Super Ninja Project back to Orochimaru." Yuto's smile turned devious. "Can't let Danzo hog all the fun. Our dear snake sage would make excellent... research material."
_______
Bonus Scene: "Parent-Teacher Meeting Gone Wrong"
In the Land of Waves newly built school. Parent-Teacher meeting. A nervous teacher stands at the front of the classroom, facing the most terrifying audience imaginable.
Teacher: [sweating profusely] "Ahem! Welcome, parents! Let's discuss… your children's academic progress!"
Zabuza: [slouched in a tiny chair, arms crossed] "I don't see why Haku needs 'algebra' when he can already kill a man six ways with a senbon."
Raiga: [nodding aggressively] "Exactly! Back in my day, we learned math by counting the bodies after a mission!"
Teacher: [laughs nervously] "Haha… yes, but—modern education focuses on well-rounded development!"
Yuto: [suddenly appearing in the back row, sipping tea] "I agree. For example, knowing geometry helps optimize explosive tag placement."
Teacher: [visibly shaking] "R-Right! Now, about homework completion rates…"
Haku: [raising hand politely] "I apologize, sensei. I was busy helping Zabuza-sama dig irrigation ditches."
Zabuza: [grumbling] "Which someone made mandatory for 'rehabilitation.'" [glances at Yuto]
Yuto: [innocently] "Manual labor builds character! Also, the rice yields have increased by 200%."
Raiga: [slams desk] "ENOUGH! When do they learn the important stuff? Like how to properly mourn your enemies?!"
Teacher: [whispering to Yuto] "…Is he serious?"
Yuto: [shrugs] "He once held a funeral for a sandal. Just roll with it."
Kabuto: [pops head through window] "Speaking of education—Yuto, we need to talk about your 'ethics' curriculum. Orochimaru-sama has notes—"
Yuto: [snaps fingers. Kabuto vanishes mid-sentence into a portal.] "Moving on! Any questions about the new 'No Assassinations During School Hours' policy?"
Zabuza & Raiga: [in unison] "BORING."
Teacher: [faints dramatically]
Yuto: [cheerfully] "Great meeting! Same time next month!"